Yo - we went from nuttin to somethin, bein real and not frontinNo one was givin us nuttin so we resorted to gunninGrowin up and we comin, up the ladder not bumminDodgin warrants and summons, from the cops we were runninGoin to school not for nuttin they teachin lies and assumptionsAnd they tell us keep comin, comin to school now for what? WhenComin back to a system that's whack and really not runninOh I'm sorry it's runnin, it's not PROPERLY runninIt's a conspiracy hear me man it's got to be somethinI can get guns faster than I can get an english muffinAnd the black church ain't sayin nuttinWe on our own cousin, I'm stickin to this

[Chorus]

I'm livin for this hip-hop, I'm spittin for this hip-hopI'm givin to this hip-hop, my life is hip-hopCulture, and y'all know thatHip-Hop in the media, y'all know it's whackBut just like them dopefiends who keep comin backLike the mayor of D.C., buyin Joey's crackNo disrespect to either one of them but look at thatStudy the metaphors in this rapWe bigger than crack, but we keep buyin itWe bigger than rap, but we keep denyin itJustice, equality, keep cryin itBut the only way to get it is to start applyin itFat Joe that's my bro shows 'nuff respectTalib, that's my bro, shows 'nuff respect50 Cent that's my bro he shows 'nuff respectCommon! That's my bro he shows 'nuff respectSnoop Dogg is my bro showed 'nuff respectDead Prez that's my peeps yo 'nuff respectCassidy's an MC who shows 'nuff respectHip-Hop is one, don't forgetI'm stickin with this

[Chorus]

I'm livin for that hip-hop culture, shape it like a sculptureTouch it why don'tcha, touch it why don'tchaHip-Hop is yours and mine and that's fineBut hip-hop's culture ain't about just crimeYou caught up in the image and, don't know they rhymesYou caught up in they bodies and don't know they mindsSo I'm, here to bring the truth in the placeLike don't think Common won't punch you in your face~!And don't think Talib won't hold the heatTo stop the violence you gotta know your streetYou gotta know who Tanga Reed isFat Joe's a leader, Busta Rhymes a preacherKRS-One's a teacherBut through Cassidy my lessons are quicker to reach yaWe one communityI'm talkin about unity, in other words you and meI'm with this